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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Geesed and Goosed

Last Saturday at our Guild meeting we had a paper piecing class. Half the class did what we referred to as 'traditional' paper piecing and the other half did freezer paper paper piecing. Some people had a lot of experience and some not so much. We thought it might be a fun way to introduce and expand some techniques that we all gained collectively. I remember when I first started paper piecing how intimidating it seemed. Since then I have learned a lot, and it doesn't scare me as it once did. We picked a couple basic patterns to work with, and began the fun!

16 1/2" x 16 1/2"

'Circle of Geese' is a free pattern available on Craftsy from Piece By Number. This was one of my first projects and where I got my 'feet wet' with paper piecing. I've only made it once before, but I was so excited and happy with my first endeavor...it pretty much got me hooked on this wacky paper piece craze! So, I was pretty excited to give it another try. I made a test piece to share at the meeting because I was one of the co-teachers. I was surprised at how quickly it came together this time around. Chalk that up to a couple years of paper piecing under my belt.I should note that the pattern is just the center circle of geese. When I got home, I decided to add a border. I've been a little obsessed with geese lately, geese and this color scheme! I'm happy to say that every piece is from my scrap heap. I was looking for a way to use the scraps and consciously veered away from the rainbow.The little geese are 1" x 2" and paper pieced. The corner geese I had tried to get the same size as the center and it just about worked! Looking at the back of a paper piece project (or EPP or quilt) is always interesting! It's always worth a look and nine times out of ten...worth a picture!After letting the top stew for a few days, an idea for quilting finally came to me. Concentric circles in the center and phantom geese along the border. This would have been a great project to share as a concentric circle tutorial! By the time I realized that I was nearly finished with the center. There will be a next time!I liked this photo because it doesn't look at all like flying geese! More like a circular saw blade!The circles are spaced 1/2" apart and again, I used the side of my walking foot. After the first round using dark blue thread, I decided to add more circles using different thread colors. Five different colors to be exact!

You can see the quilting better on the back as well as the thread colors. And because I thought it would be fun, I added two different corner colors! Frivolous fun is always fun!Who here has a favorite paper piecing pattern? I know paper piecing isn't for everyone. If you have never tried it, you should. It can be so much fun and it's another skill to add to your arsenal!

This is gorgeous! I have not done paper piecing mostly because of not having a printer...which is finally no excuse, as we got a new one a few months ago!Maybe I should start with this same circle...it is a classic, for sure!

It does make it a little more difficult if you don’t have a printer for the pattern! However…one day you will give it a try! I swore I would never do it! I think it’s worth a try even if you decide it isn’t for you. The Circle of Geese isn’t too difficult. You could try flying geese, or economy blocks. There are plenty of beginner friendly patterns out there!

Jayne, your mini is so beautiful! I've wanted to try the Circle of Geese pattern, but forgot until I read your post. I think I even have the templates printed out! Guess I better go find what I did with them now! I love the border you added on, especially the quilted geese.

Can't get enough of this--and of how your quilting complements the piecing. I don't think I have a favorite paper piecing pattern. I love them all whether paper foundations or freezer paper. I do like to design my own--such as teeny tiny lighthouses. The only thing that keeps me from making them all is time. 🙂

I love how this piece has such wonderful movement to it, from the paper pieced geese right down to the quilting. So much yumminess! I love the look of paper piecing, but sometimes I feel sloppy with seams. I'm hoping to attend a class at our guild this weekend about paper piecing. The member who is teaching it seems to be a guru, her work is beautiful.

I love the borders you've added to this block! I made it a few years ago, and it's in the sampler quilt on my bed but I never really liked the block...it's just a block in a pile of other blocks...the varying geese really change the attitude of the piece. Excellent colour choices too! I'm inspired to pull this block out again :)

Circle of Geese was my very first paper piece project as well. I really love the concentric circles in the contrasting colors. Works really well. I have to say, I've never paper pieced with freezer paper. Never knew that was a thing, so need to look that up.

Gorgeous project Jayne - a circle of flying geese has been on my mental to do list since I first started quilting but it terrified me. Maybe it won't be so bad now having done a number of other paper piecing projects!